Warren's Veneda romps in Santa Margarita

The California-bred five-year-old easily pulled away in the stretch while

drifting in to finish 1 1/8 miles on the fast main track in 1:48 3/5. Trained by

Craig Lewis for owner/breeder Benjamin C. Warren, she

returned $5 as the 3-2 favorite off easy scores in the Paseana S. and Santa

Maria S. (G2) to start the year.

"Usually, if you're sitting midpack horses won't flick

their ears back and forth and just relax but she was flicking 'em back and forth

and was totally relaxed," Baze said. "Craig tells me she's only getting better and she proved

it today.

"She's special," the rider added. "She's named after Mr. Warren's late wife

so I know how special this is for him."

"Out of our 800 horses, that's the best win, the biggest," Warren stated.

Warren's Veneda is now 22-8-3-5

from three seasons of racing and has banked $827,612 in career earnings. The

versatile mare has won on dirt, synthetic and turf during her time on track,

boasts two other stakes scores, and eight black-type placings including the past

two runnings of the Bayakoa S. (G2).

"I was pretty confident

that she was going to win but I didn't think that she would be that dominating,

because I thought the two Eastern fillies looked awful good on paper," Lewis

said. "We're thinking about (the $1.5 million) Charles Town Classic ([G2]

against males on April 18). We're going to have to take on some pretty tough

boys, but she could be up to the task."

"I've been fortunate

in my career to have a lot of good horses," he added. "I don't know if there could ever be a

better victory than when Cutlass Reality defeated back-to-back (Kentucky) Derby

(G1) winners (and Horses of the Year) in the Hollywood Gold Cup (H. [G1] in 1988), Alysheba and Ferdinand. That one's

got to be in my mind forever.

"Larry the Legend in the (1995) Santa Anita Derby (G1); I've got

some good moments, but this was definitely a good one."

Warren's Veneda is the first registered stakes scorer out of the winning More

Cal Bread (Flying Continental). Her second dam is Grade 3 heroine Nature's Way (Nain

Bleu), and this is the same female family as Grade 3-placed stakes victor

Devoted Alliance (Devoted Ruler).

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